Senior Staff Engineer, SoC NPU Architect

Samsung-Research-America; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 204,000 - 306,000; Full time

Job summary

Samsung Research America seeks a senior NPU Architect to lead the design of next‑generation NPU subsystems within high‑performance SOCs. You will drive architectural exploration, performance modeling, and HW/SW co‑optimization for AI workloads in Galaxy devices.

The role requires deep expertise in NPU microarchitecture, CNN/LLM workloads, and collaboration across hardware, software, and system teams to deliver compelling PPA improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in Electrical, Computer Science or related field.
• 14+ years of experience in NPU architecture & development.
• Hands-on experience in cycle-accurate performance and functional models.
• Proficient in Python, System C and/or C++.
• Experience with ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, ONNX).
• Experience in SoC microarchitecture and interface subsystems.

Responsibilities

• Propose NPU architectural/micro-architectural features to boost PPA for next-gen SOCs.
• Perform high-level performance modeling/analysis of NPU features and workloads.
• Develop cycle-accurate and analytical NPU performance models and correlate with silicon.
• Deliver architecture proposals and specs to design teams and leadership.
• Analyze benchmarks and workloads for architecture/micro-architecture optimizations.
• Map AI use cases to NPU.
• Co-design SW/HW for low power and high performance.
• Collaborate across teams to implement architecture proposals across SOC, Driver, OS.

Skills

NPU architecture

Performance modeling

Python

C++

ML frameworks

CNN/LLM knowledge

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor/Master/PhD in Electrical/CS

Tools

Platform Architect

SoC microarchitecture

Job description

The Samsung SoC Architecture Lab explores innovative SoC architecture, key IP blocks (CPU, GPU, NPU), bus / memory subsystem and multimedia subsystems for future Samsung Galaxy products (Smartphones, IoT and future devices) echoing Samsung’s AI for All strategy. We are defining the high-performance SoC architecture development for various Galaxy device lineups. This lab collaborates with Samsung MX headquarter team, key R&D teams around the globe and Samsung's strategic SoC partners to innovate and reinvent technology that will positively impact hundred-millions of people around the world via the Galaxy flagship products.

Position Summary:

We are looking for a NPU Architect for next generation SOCs. This is a highly visible hands‑on role leading individual and team contributions to NPU sub‑system architecture, interface, performance and power tradeoffs. Responsible for anywhere from early‑stage architectural exploration, research work focusing on machine learning, defining new features, performance modeling, Hardware-Software co optimization.

Position Responsibilities:

• Propose innovative NPU Architectural and micro-architectural features to boost PPA (Performance, Power and Area) on various targeted workloads in next generation SOCs
• Perform high-level performance modeling/simulation and analysis of NPU features, applications, benchmarks, and complex uses case
• Develop cycle accurate and analytical NPU performance model and correlate with Silicon
• Deliver architecture/microarchitecture proposals and specifications to the design team and articulate them effectively across audiences ranging from hardware & software engineers to architecture community peers, and to technology leadership
• Analyzing benchmarks, application workloads, and performance simulation results for architecture and microarchitecture optimizations
• Map AI use cases to NPU.
• Optimize and co-design of SW and HW to develop new architectures for low power and high performance
• Collaborate across teams to bring architecture proposals to fruition across the SOC, Driver, OS and System through detailed documentation

Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s, Masters or PhD degree in Electrical, Computer Science, related Science or equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• 14+ years of experience in NPU architecture & development
• Hands on experience in developing cycle accurate performance and functional models
• Good knowledge and hands on experience in in CNN and LLM models
• Proficient programming skills in Python, System C and/or C++
• Experience in ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, ONNX)
• Experience in micro architecture of SoC, interface subsystems, logic modules
• Self-motivated problem-solver with an ability to work well in a team

Special Attributes:

• Experience in performance/power modeling using Platform Architect
• Experience in mapping AI use cases to IPs
• Experience with hardware memory managements units, prefetching or memory subsystems
• Experience with multi-core systems and memory coherency
• Experience in ML model optimization on GPU Architecture
• Highly motivated with good verbal and written communication skills

Base Pay Range

$203,700 - $305,500 USD

Additional Information

Disclosure of Trade Secrets

Samsung has a strict policy on trade secrets. In applying to Samsung and progressing through the recruitment process, you must not disclose any trade secrets of a current or previous employer.

Essential Job Functions

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, and frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Samsung Research America is committed to complying with all Federal, State and local laws related to the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities.

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